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Thoughts on DAC option

Current DAC is the original Auralic Vega . This was a HUGE upgrade in sound quality from a Cambridge Audio DAC Magic.

And things are good right now. Well, mostly, it's not like we are generally blessed with freedom from the desire to upgrade!

And now I have an option of a Chord 2qute. My main issue with the current setup is the fatigue on some music. EDM is generally fantastic, however rock is often harsh. Voices are great.

So the question is whether the Chord could smooth off the sharper edges of things.

All feedback gratefully received.

System is:

Sources - PC and Auralic Aries Mini

Amp - Prima Luna Frank Hybrid Integrated

Speakers - Krix Harmonix 2

Interconnects and speaker cables are average but not the biggest factor here from what I can tell.

incoming
incoming OP
24 posts
 

Changing to a wired connection on the Auralic mini seems to have made a huge improvement. Will take some time to confirm but firm impressions are very promising 

fpomposo
113 posts
 

I would look into isolation for components, and adding super tweeters, that got rid of any harshness left in my system... Also power conditioning, I use equitech and that also wiped out any harshness remnants 

My DAC is a Schitt Yggdrasil OG with all the upgrades, and I did install Synergistic Research fuses everywhere I could which added a very analog quality to things and I highly recommend 

jacupmakeup
1 posts
 

I have the PL hybrid also and have been dealing with the same issues you’re describing. And that is with a tube DAC. In the last couple weeks I managed to solve (at least it feels that way) the problem. 
I watched a YouTube video about speaker placement and followed the steps. I replaced my RCA and speakers cables with Cardas Parsec cables. These two remedies made an enormous difference in my system. 
That said, a nice R2R DAC should also help out. 

dogearedaudio's avatar
dogearedaudio
214 posts
 

Sounds like you've already made some progress.  I'll just say that I love my Chord Qutest, but I have an all-tube system and I was looking for a "faster" DAC than the tube-output Doge 7 I had before.

celtic66
1,802 posts
 

Huey said it best:

 I want a new drug
One that won't make me sick
One that won't make me crash my car
Or make me feel three feet thick
I want a new drug
One that won't hurt my head
One that won't make my mouth too dry
Or make my eyes too red

[Chorus]
One that won't make me nervous
Wondering what to do
One that makes me feel like I feel when I'm with you
When I'm alone with you

You need a new DAC.

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